The End of the Controversy

DANIEL 12DANIEL 12A VERSE BY VERSE COMMENTARY

Daniel 12:1 “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of your people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time your people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” This verse delineates the great event which brings the final downfall of the king of the North. "At that time shall Michael stand up" Michael means "One who is like God." It is another title which Inspiration gives to Christ. The expression "stand up" is used repeatedly throughout Daniel 11. It means that a king, having received power and dominion, commences to exercise his royal authority. Throughout the long history traced by Daniel 11, many princes have stood up to rule, but they have all been princes of Gentile powers. Throughout the ages, the Israel of God have longed for the time when their Prince would stand up and bring them deliverance from the oppressive powers of earth.

The restoration of the kingdom to Israel with a Man on David's throne has been the hope of Israel. But the restoration of the kingdom and the King depends on something else. Jesus cannot receive His kingdom until His sanctuary is cleansed, for He cannot stand up as King while, He ministers as Priest. And He cannot cleanse His sanctuary until He has perfected and sealed His people. But when the moral image of Jesus is restored in His people, and the last soul has received the seal of the living God, Jesus can throw down the censer, saying, ''It is done (See Early Writings, pp. 71, 279) then He receives His kingdom and stands up to rule." "And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever'' Revelation 11:15.

"The great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people”Christ died for His Church, and ministers in the sanctuary for its purification. It is the object of His supreme regard. When He stands up to rule, His first concern is the deliverance of His people. They are represented as standing on the glorious holy mountain, the focal point of the king of the North’s furious attack. "And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time." The day of the Lord is a day of wrath upon the nations who "have fought against Jerusalem; their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth. And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the Lord shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour" Zechariah 14:12, 13. "For it is the day of the Lord's vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controversy of Zion" Isaiah 34:8. In Revelation 16 the outpouring of wrath upon the nations is called the seven last plagues (Revelation 16). Great Babylon is punished for all her warfare on the saints from the beginning to the end of time (Revelation 18:20-24).

"And at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book" In the day of the Lord, all those whose names have been retained in the Lamb's book of life during the judgment will find eternal deliverance from their foes. The important point to notice is that God is able to deliver His people at such a time because, in the previous hour of the cleansing of the sanctuary, they have been delivered eternally from sin. Having been delivered from Satan's power within (Daniel 11:44), they are ready to be delivered from Satan's power without (Daniel 12:1). Daniel 12:2 “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” 

This verse does not refer to the general resurrection of the righteous at the Second Advent, but to a special resurrection at the voice of God under the outpouring of the seventh vial (Revelation 16:17; Joel 3:16). God's people are delivered by the voice of God. The Holy Ghost is poured upon the living saints, glorifying them before their enemies (See Early Writings, pp. 15, 285, 286). Those who have died in the faith of the third angel's message are raised as glorified saints to hear God's covenant of peace with His people. Those also who led out in the crucifixion of Jesus will be resurrected to see Him come in glory (See Revelation 1:7; The Great Controversy, p. 637).

And many of them that sleep - Here we have a resurrection taking place during the time of the plagues. Some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt - The many that awake, or are resurrected, are a mixed multitude consisting of some that will gain eternal life and others that will not. These are being resurrected at the same time. This cannot be the first resurrection that takes place when Jesus comes as only the righteous dead are raised in it. (1 Thessalonians 4:16) It also cannot be the second resurrection that takes place at the end of the thousand years as only the wicked dead are raised in it. (Revelation 20:4-6, 14-15)This can only mean that we have a special resurrection taking place. Does the Bible support this? The answer is yes it does. In Revelation 1:7 and Matthew 26:63-64 we learn that those that took part in the crucifixion of Christ and the high priest will be raised to see Christ coming in the clouds of heaven. This takes care of those that will be raised to everlasting shame and contempt.

The righteous that will be a part of this special resurrection are found in Revelation 14:13. The voice from heaven told John to ’write, blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth’. Henceforth means from this time onwards, or from now on. The time frame is found in the preceding verses which is none other than the proclamation of the third angel’s message that commenced in 1844. So from 1844 onwards those that die in the Lord were to be blessed. The reason why they are blessed is that they are a part of the special resurrection which has to take place during the seventh plague if they are to see Christ coming in the clouds of heaven. What a fitting reward for those that held their faith in proclaiming the last message to a dying world to usher in the coming of Christ, to see Him come in the clouds of glory.

Daniel 12:3 “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” They that be wise - As the margin reads, they that be teachers. Shall shine as the brightness of the firmament - Those that teach the truth and proclaim the last message will be vindicated by God. They will shine as the firmament for the glory/ righteousness of God is revealed therein, (Psalms 97:6) thus the glory/righteousness of the Lord has risen upon them. (Isaiah 60:1) Each of them had pushed aside the darkness of the world and allowed the Sun of Righteousness into their lives. (Malachi 4:2) God’s glory/righteousness is His character, thus they are revealing Christ’s character in their own lives by faith.

They that turn many to righteousness - This is a repeat of the first part of the verse but with a little more information. These teachers have faithfully given and lived the gospel message and in turn many have been saved from eternal ruin. So we could quite easily say that the purpose of prophecy is to teach others the way of salvation. This is the real conclusion to the vision by the river Hiddekel. The long, turbulent stream of history has run its course. For the saints it ends not in desert sands, but it flows out into the sea - "the sea of glass." Fellow pilgrims, look up! The sky is flushed with the glory of eternity!

CONCLUDING REMARKSDaniel 12:4-13 Daniel 12:4 “But you, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” To the time of the end - Until 1798 the book of Daniel was to be sealed. Therefore the book is now unsealed, and we are able to gain a correct interpretation of the prophecies within. After 1798, the date for the unsealing of Daniel, pace of society has been rapidly increasing, likewise with the increase of knowledge. 

The prophecies of Daniel which relate to the time of the end, especially the time prophecies, were sealed by divine command. But the angel promised that when the time of the end should arrive, "many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." The primary meaning of these words is indicated by the context. "Run to and fro." This is a Hebrew expression signifying a diligent searching back and forth in the prophecies. At the appointed time "knowledge" of the prophecies of Daniel would "be increased." In Revelation 10 is found the record of Christ unsealing the little book of Daniel to the understanding of His people in the last days. Paralleling the increased knowledge of the prophetic Word, an astonishing progress in scientific knowledge has marked the present age. In this generation man has broken the sound barrier and the space barrier. But mere scientific knowledge has not made the earth safer or the race happier.

The knowledge promised in Daniel 12:4 will enable God's people to break the sin barrier. This will be a step in human experience that will dwarf every other human achievement. The people of God will be "men wondered at:" Zechariah 3:8. God says: "Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God." "I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame." "And it shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.” Isaiah 62:3;Zephaniah 3:19; Jeremiah 33:9. The book of Daniel contains the key to God's final answer to the problem of sin. The light on the perfecting of the saints through the final ministration of Christ in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary will yet be seen to overshadow every gem of thought conceived by all the philosophers of all time.

Daniel 12:5-7 “Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. 6 And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.” Bank of the river - This is the same river as in chapter 10, the Hiddekel, as there is no break in the prophecy thus far from chapter 10. The River Euphrates/Tigris. 

Man clothed in linen - This man clothed in linen was standing upon the waters of the river as one of the men were talking to him. Looking at this person in linen, we find that it is the same person in Daniel 10:5-6, the person there was Christ. Thus this is Christ here also. How long shall it be to the end of these wonders - The answer is divided into two parts, the 1260 days, and then the scattering of the power of the holy people. When both these things shall be accomplished then the end will come. 1260 days - 538-1798 A.D., the era of papal supremacy. 

When he shall have...scattering the power of the holy people –  The ‘he’ is a reference to God, to he who liveth for ever, as it is He Who is working through the nations of the earth to fulfill His plan to call as many as possible to salvation. This is the spreading of the message into all the world. Sometimes persecution is the only thing that will wake the people of God up to seek Him and do the work He has asked of them. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16) and it is this power/gospel that is to go to all the world and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14) Revelation 14:6-7, the everlasting gospel will be preached to every nation, kindred, tongue and people and it shall be a glorious message: Revelation 18:1 

Daniel is permitted to hear one of the angels conversing with Christ. They are just as anxious to know about the time of the end as Daniel is. The church on earth and the church in heaven constitute one church. It is the body of Christ, and the angels realize how much sorrow and humiliation the Saviour endures on account of His defective "body." They long for the sanctuary to be cleansed and for the whole church to be eternally finished with the problem of sin. They weep and sing with the saints below. Therefore they are vitally concerned about the final restoration. The prophecies of Daniel are "things the angels desire to look into.” 1 Peter 1:12.

By comparing this passage with Revelation 10:1-6, it is found that Christ Himself is the Man clothed in linen. In Daniel 12 He swore that the book would be sealed up till the end of the 1260 days. (See Revelation 12:6, 14.) In Revelation 10 He swears that the book is unsealed. "And when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people." This refers to the termination of the long period of Papal persecutions in A.D. 1798. "All these things shall be finished." The Septuagint reads, "They shall know all these things” that is, after the period of Papal supremacy, the book of Daniel would be unsealed, and God's people would be blessed with the promised increase of knowledge.

Daniel 12:8-10 “And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? 9 And he said, Go your way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” In his introductory remarks Daniel declares that he “had understanding of the vision" that is, he understood the meaning of the cleansing of the sanctuary and the restoration of God's people in the last days. But he still did not understand the time element. Therefore he inquired twice how long it would be to the time of the end. Again he was told that the matter was sealed until the time of the end.

"Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." Since only the pure in heart can see the truth (Matthew 5:8), none of the wicked would profit by the unsealing of the prophecies of Daniel in the time of the end. "Light is sown for the righteous.” Psalm 97:11.

Daniel 12:11-12 “And from the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days. 12 Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.” These time prophecies have been a "happy hunting ground “for would-be time setters. But the time prophecies of Daniel were all understood by the generation who lived in 1844."After this period of time, reaching from 1842 to 1844, there can be no definite tracing of the prophetic time “ Ellen G. White in The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 971. In 1843 Charles Fitch produced a great chart of the time prophecies of Daniel.

On it appeared the four time periods of Daniel-the 2300 days, the 1260 days, the 1290 days and the 1335 days. Except for a six-month mistake of reckoning on the 2300 days, Inspiration declares that the chart was correct: "I have seen that the 1843 chart was directed by the hand of the Lord, and that it should not be altered; that the figures were as He wanted them.” Early Writings, p. 74. On this 1843 chart the pioneers figured the 1290 days from 508 to 1798, and the 1335 days from 508 to 1843. "The daily." This refers back to Daniel 8:11, 12 and Daniel 11:31. As has been seen, the support of Clovis, king of the Franks, established the priesthood of the Catholic Church in A.D. 508. Christ's continual mediation in the heavenly sanctuary was cast down in favor of an earthly priesthood who blasphemously took upon itself the prerogatives of Christ.

Shall be 1290 days - 1290 years from 508 A.D. takes us to 1798 A.D. and the fall of the temporal power of the papacy. 1335 days - From 508 A.D. an addition of 1335 years takes us to 1843-44 A.D. Blessed is he that waiteth - A blessing is pronounced upon those who not only come to the 1798 date, but which are able to also come to the second date at the end of the 1335 days. Why is this? Because in 1798 the papacy received the deadly wound, which was tremendous in itself, but in 1843-44 the messages of the three angels began to be preached to the world about the second coming of Christ. At this time the church was in the period of Philadelphia and the experience was one of tremendous blessing to all who later recalled going through it.

"Blessed is he that waiteth." Since the prophetic periods have ended, the special blessing of Christ's final intercessory work is available as soon as the church makes the necessary response. The hour of His judgment for His people is come. The door to the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary is open. It is time for the Advent people to look up in faith, saying, "Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come.” Psalm 102:13. Those who would place these time periods in the future are like the Jews in Haggai's day who began to postpone the end of the seventy years to the future. Although the seventy years had ended in 536 B.C., and the time had then arrived to restore the temple, they were saying in 520 B.C., "The time is not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built.” Haggai 1:2. The captivity had ended years before, and the temple should have been finished. So too, modern Israel's captivity ended many years ago-in 1844. (See Prophets and Kings, p. 714.)

The restoration of the heavenly sanctuary is long overdue. Speculation on some future time period will only excuse Laodicea's great sin of failing to grasp the mighty privileges of this hour. The trumpet call of Joel 2 is now summoning God's people to the sanctuary, that they may receive the blessing of the ages. Even those who die in the faith of this judgment-hour messagewill receive the promised blessing. Speaking of those who die during the sounding of God's last message, the Revelator says, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from hence-forth.” Revelation 14:13. These will come forth in the special resurrection mentioned in Daniel 12:2.

Daniel was a unique prophet. The other prophets spoke their messages to the people of God in their own day, but Daniel could not speak about the final restoration to the people of his generation. The great light which he received was not for them. The Lord chose Daniel to speak to the people of God in the last days. He was the prophet divinely appointed for this age. For centuries, while this holy seer was hid in the grave, the great light on Israel's final restoration was hid from the under-standing of men. But not any longer. Daniel now stands in his lot. His hour has come. Though dead, he speaks. How blessed are the wise who hear and understand!